There are not many phone manufacturers nowadays that are brave enough to venture outside of the well-known and safe field of doing large black slabs, stuffed with dual-core processors. Indeed, from design standpoint, the times are much simpler now than they were before. We're witnessing a relatively bland landscape, mostly filled with boring-looking smartphones, which, albeit powerful, have visibly little sense of style.

Until now, this trend went mostly unnoticed, due to the very nature of the smartphone-rocking crowd – tech-savvy individuals who mainly care about the specs and capabilities of their devices, rather than how they look. However, with the rapid proliferation of smartphones, we're beginning to see more and more casual cell phone users making the jump to using an iPhone, an Android handset, etc. With such popularization, sooner or later there's going to be demand for devices that look a bit more refined, a bit more sophisticated, if you will.

Some manufacturers are already willing to target their devices to this new, previously unexplored area of the market. Sony Ericsson's Xperia line is a perfect example. With handsets like the arc, ray and mini, the joint-venture is openly showing that its offerings don't rely on specs alone. They'll attract people by looking cool. A rather atypical solution can be observed with the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini and mini pro – the new additions to the manufacturer's “super-mini” class, which have taken all the good sides of their predecessors, and managed to complement them with some more up-to-date specs. Let's see how the QWERTY-sporting Xperia mini pro fares in this cruel world of smartphone juggernauts!

In the box you'll find:

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

Wall charger with detachable microUSB cable

MH410 GreenHeart handsfree

2GB microSD card

Small cleaning cloth

Screen protector

Lots of papers

Design:

This is where the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro should shine. The handset is designed to be stylish and compact, and it's safe to say that the goal has been achieved. We have the all-black variant, but there are also all-white, as well as white with pink or blue back covers to give it a fresher appearance. Due to the presence of a side-sliding QWERTY keyboard, the Xperia mini pro is a bit chubby. Because of that, its presence in your pocket is definitely noticeable. This won't really be a problem for female users, who put their phones in their handbags, and for this purpose, the Xperia mini pro is ideal, managing to remain pretty compact.

The Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro is designed to be stylish and compact

Sony Ericsson has done a remarkable job with upgrading the mini pro so that it fits today's standards. The display is up from 2.55” QVGA to the much more bearable 3” of HVGA goodness, all the while keeping the dimensions of the device in tact. The display itself is pretty decent in terms of colors and viewing angles. Unfortunately, the ambient light sensor cannot be turned off, so you definitely lack some flexibility in terms of brightness. Outdoors, you'll have to shield your device with your hand, in order to get a readable view. Thankfully, the HVGA resolution plays well with this screen size, and thus the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro delivers fine details, although not Retina Display-quality.

Speaker

Buttons below the display

The front of the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

The screen is also blessed with Sony's Mobile Bravia Engine for enhanced photos and videos, which is something we do appreciate. Finally, while the 3 inches of screen real estate are good enough for simple everyday tasks like checking the mail, but hardcore smartphone users will have to look elsewhere and find a bigger option.

The buttons around the device left us with some mixed feelings. For example, while the camera shutter is fantastic, the volume rocker clearly lacks some of that pronounced travel that we enjoy so much. And while the power/lock button seems fine, it's like its tiny dimensions are making it a bit uncomfortable to use. The home button is okay, though could be a bit less stiff.

Right side with volume rocker and camera shutter

Top side with power key and microsUSB port

Bottom side

The sliding mechanism is executed perfectly – the upper part quickly and firmly snaps into place, leaving you alone with that four-row QWERTY keyboard, that has to be pretty well-made, in order to be usable within the compact realities of the Xperia mini pro. And indeed it is! We had absolutely no problems using the keyboard, even then it's not the most spacious one out there. Keys are still nicely spaced out from one another, allowing you to avoid pressing the wrong ones, while they also provide a reassuring feedback when pressed, due to their “clickiness”.

The sliding mechanism of the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro is executed perfectly

Camera

Battery compartment

The back of the Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro

Overall, we can say that Sony Ericsson has done a terrific job in creating an overly compact, yet usable handset. The screen is now big enough for everyday tasks, while the great QWERTY keyboard also elevates the device's messaging inclination to a very high level.

Sony Ericsson Xperia mini pro 360-degrees View:

Drag the picture or use the keyboard arrows to rotate the phone.
Double click or press keyboard Space to zoom in/out

44 Comments

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1.raka (unregistered)

have had it for a couple of days...its a very very good device for its class..keyboard can be better, but like i said, it isnt a high-end smartphone. one complaint though keyboard visibility isnt consistent. in a good-enough lighted room you cant really see the letters, but in another room also with good lighting, keyboard is visible...all in all keyboard backlit is actually the problem, unfortunately you cant switch off the backlit...

5.selva (unregistered)

This is an excellent performer in it's class of mobiles. Really it is in a good gadget in its class of mobiles. Camera 5 MP is equal to 12 MP of other so called symbian platform mobiles. It is the only mobile which is having 2 cameras which will help to go for skype connectivity instantly. First HD camera for video coverage in small size. Music is good. Display is awesome. super sensitive.. Key board is designed in its class of look. Handy, versatile, elegant, stylish to have a corporate look which will upgrade one's personality too... Great ya.... Cost is around Rs.15,500/- in Chennai. One should not miss it to have Android Gingerbread 2.3 platform to have numerous applications............ I am enjoying much. I wish you to have one for you.

10.chatfornow (unregistered)

11.Marluce (unregistered)

Hi !
I have my Xperia mini pro more than 8 months and I love it.
The battery is so good that it last more than 5 days using as phone and 1 day and a half using internet, twitter, mp3 and more
Only when I use GPS for a long time it needs recharge at the same day

18.netscavenger (unregistered)

13.steveemmax (unregistered)

Had this a few weeks now, moved from Nokia and its ill fated N900...
Feels well made, screen clear and well laid out.
Nice and compact, battery life is typical smartphone - recharge most nights unless youve not used anything and it will probably last till the morning!
Figured out the Skype app and as I bought one for the wife as well, we have had video calls FOC thanks to free wi-fi where available.
Plenty of worthwhile free apps, Go SMS is neat and adds colour to texting. As Im new to Andriod Market it seems well laid out and easier than Ovi.
Poor that you cant make it work properly with Mac's - though you can transfer files when in mass media mode, so all is not lost.
Neat that it can stream iPlayer, and the other tv channels (wifi - unsure about 3g) though small screen gets tiresome and loudspeaker sounds tinny.

Negatives - removing the back panel feels like you will break it. Havent done so yet though. If you hold it in the left hand whilst typing, your index finger sits directly on the camera lens.. Come on SE this is a silly mistake, no wonder pictures look cloudy...
2gb micro sd card is not big enough - should came with a bigger card.
Would be nice if you could use the volume rocker to zoom in/out rather than pinch. Its such a small screen its tricky.
Web browser is pants, tricky and not intuitive. I tried Opera but no flash support so took that off. Not the main reason for the purchase so not too big an issue.

14.mr.cuccuou (unregistered)

is it me or the reviews of phone arena is getting better. one suggestion though, i tink its way better to present the pros and cons instead of a + and - bulletin mark, go for like ++for really pro and --for really negative, cause for me a - Some physical buttons could be better, as the review stated, is more than a annoyance than actually cons... other than that it stills feels the review is a little 'biased' i mean it feels as though all reviewer has dis mentally of comparing phones WAAY over their league, at least they didnt include for cons - small screen can be tricky for big fingers s**t, u know... theyre learning but its phone arena, its their flavor, if u will. And lastly... come on phone arena, either u have a ridiculous piss poor reception or have a ridiculous strict standard in call quality, u know, its just insane... just sayin... so yeah, overall gud review guys...

btw, ur vid reviews is just stellar as always... y cant ur review be like dat, just sayin, peace

15.mr.cuccuou (unregistered)

is it me or the reviews of phone arena is getting better. one suggestion though, i tink its way better to present the pros and cons instead of a + and - bulletin mark, go for like ++for really pro and --for really negative, cause for me a - Some physical buttons could be better, as the review stated, is more than a annoyance than actually cons... other than that it stills feels the review is a little 'biased' i mean it feels as though all reviewer has dis mentally of comparing phones WAAY over their league, at least they didnt include for cons - small screen can be tricky for big fingers s**t, u know... theyre learning but its phone arena, its their flavor, if u will. And lastly... come on phone arena, either u have a ridiculous piss poor reception or have a ridiculous strict standard in call quality, u know, its just insane... just sayin... so yeah, overall gud review guys...

btw, ur vid reviews is just stellar as always... y cant ur review be like dat, just sayin, peace

17.rizk (unregistered)

Its a lovely little phone, and certinly may be replacing my X8 when O2 let me upgrade my paygo sim.

I like phones like this small BUT usable, before I had my X8 I was looking into X10 minis and I m glad I didn't I dunno who people can put up with a 2.5 inch screen, with or without a hardware keyboard.. I have seen people slating SE for brining the mini phones out, but again they failed to see this, these phones ARE far betterr to the X10 minis bigger better screen, better cam......more inportantly better guts. how can they be the same O_o just before anyone does here :p

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